Unlock instant, AI-driven research and patent intelligence for your innovation.

Flexible tube insertion apparatus having vibration actuator for reducing insertion force of endoscope insertion member

Active Publication Date: 2020-06-30
OLYMPUS CORP
View PDF15 Cites 2 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The apparatus effectively reduces frictional forces, allowing for smoother insertion with less force required, thereby enhancing the ease of insertion and minimizing discomfort.

Problems solved by technology

Accordingly, when the rotation member is rotated by the motor, the rotation causes vibration.

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Flexible tube insertion apparatus having vibration actuator for reducing insertion force of endoscope insertion member
  • Flexible tube insertion apparatus having vibration actuator for reducing insertion force of endoscope insertion member
  • Flexible tube insertion apparatus having vibration actuator for reducing insertion force of endoscope insertion member

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

first embodiment

[0017]The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, and 4C.

[0018]A flexible tube insertion apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an insertion apparatus 10), which is an endoscope apparatus as shown in FIG. 1, is provided in, for example, an operating room or an examination room. The insertion apparatus 10 comprises an endoscope 20, a light source device 60, a control device 70, and a display device 80.

[0019]The endoscope 20 functions as, for example, an insertion device inserted into a tube 200 (see FIG. 4A), such as the large intestine. The endoscope 20 images the inside of the tube 200 using an imager (e.g., a CCD or a CMOS) of an image pickup unit (not shown).

[0020]The light source device 60 emits light for the imager to perform the imaging. The light is guided by a light guide (e.g., an optical fiber) of an illumination unit (not shown) provided inside the endoscope 20 to an illumination section (not shown, e.g., a phosphor) of the illumina...

second embodiment

[0061]Hereinafter, only the structures different from those of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 5. The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the structure of the insertion section 30.

[0062]The insertion section 30 comprises, in the order from a distal end portion of the insertion section 30 to a proximal end portion of the insertion section 30, a distal rigid portion 31, an active bendable portion 33a, a passive bendable portion 33b, and a flexible tube 35. A proximal end portion of the active bendable portion 33a is coupled to a distal end portion of the passive bendable portion 33b, and a proximal end portion of the passive bendable portion 33b is coupled to a distal end portion of the flexible tube 35.

[0063]The flexible tube 35 has a length greater than that of the passive bendable portion 33b. The distal end portion of the flexible tube 35 may include the passive bendable portion 33b.

[0064]Upon receipt of an external force F2,...

third embodiment

[0068]Hereinafter, only the structures different from those of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 6. In the present embodiment, a plurality of vibrators 100 are arranged in such a manner that the vibrators 100 are apart from each other along an axial direction of an insertion section 30. For example, one vibrator 100 and one state detector 91 are arranged in each segment 50 as a unit.

[0069]A controller 110 is shared by each unit. The controller 110 may be arranged in each unit. The controller 110 controls the resonance frequency of vibration generated by the vibrator 100 for each unit.

[0070]In the present embodiment, the vibrators 100 are arranged throughout the insertion section 30. Since a frictional force F3 is reduced in the entire insertion section 30, the insertion section 30 can be advanced with a less insertion force F1, thus further improving the ease of insertion of the insertion section 30.

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

PUM

No PUM Login to View More

Abstract

A flexible tube insertion apparatus includes an insertion section inserted into a tube and a detection unit that detects states of the insertion section. The flexible tube insertion apparatus includes one or more vibrators that are arranged in the insertion section, generate vibration, and vibrate the insertion section by the generated vibration and a controller that calculates a magnitude of an external force applied to the insertion section from the tube based on the states of the insertion section detected by the detection unit, computes a resonance frequency of the vibration relative to the magnitude of the external force, and controls the vibrators in such a manner that the vibrators vibrate at the resonance frequency.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a Continuation Application of PCT Application No. PCT / JP2015 / 065367, filed May 28, 2015, the entire contents of all of which are incorporated herein by references.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to a flexible tube insertion apparatus.2. Description of the Related Art[0003]An endoscope disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2002-233497, for example, includes an insertion section inserted into a lumen, and the insertion section includes a rotation member and a motor that drives the rotation member. The rotation member and the motor are arranged inside a distal end portion of the insertion section. The center of gravity of the rotation member is deviated from the center of the rotation member. Accordingly, when the rotation member is rotated by the motor, the rotation causes vibration. This vibration prevents adhesion of the insertion section to the inte...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to View More
Patent Type & Authority Patents(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A61B1/00A61B34/20A61B1/005A61B1/06
CPCA61B1/0055A61B1/00006A61B1/00133A61B1/0016A61B1/00096A61B1/0676A61B2034/2061A61B1/009
Inventor IKEDA, YUICHI
Owner OLYMPUS CORP